Automatic shirt folding machine



AUTOMATIC SHIRT FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 1Fig./

Wing J. Lee

INVENTOR.

Nov. 11, 1969 WING J1EE 3,477,619

AUTOMATIC SHIRT FOLDING MACHINE Filed June 28. 1967 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2Nov. 11, 1969 WING J. LEE 3,477,619

AUTOMATIC SHIRT FOLDING MACHINE MW mm Nam 11, 1969 WING J. LEE

AUTOMATIC SHIRT FOLDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 28, 1967INVENTOR.

NOV. 11, 1969 w J LEE 7 AUTOMATIC SHIRT FOLDING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet5 Filed June 28. 1967 Wing J. Lee

IN VENTOR.

Nov. 11, 1969 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 28, 1967 INVENTOR.

1969 WING J. LEE

AUTOMATIC SHIRT FOLDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 28. 1967 6 em w m W F 0 I 2 gm w 4 g 4\ 2 1m 4 5 w x I W I? RV! km M w B 3 o w a W a3 7 i W3 w I 3 4321;... m N w 4 I- .al 4 l 3 \W x w o H a 155% \IIIHIJ pw 8 o 3 x p 4 a 3 x United States Patent 3,477,619 AUTOMATIC SHIRTFOLDING MACHINE Wing J. Lee, 1322 Neck Road, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11229 FiledJune 28, 1967, Ser. No. 649,695 Int. Cl. A41h 33/00 US. Cl. '223--37 14Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A table top having means at one endthereof engaging and creasing a collar and adjacent shoulder portions ofa shirt, means at the other end engaging the tail portion of a shirt,means adjacent the tail engaging portion for folding the tail portion ofa shirt longitudinally into overlying relation to the main body portionthereof, means along each side of the table top to support and engagethe sleeve of the shirt and fold them inwardly into overlying relationto the folded tail portion of the shirt and means along each side of thetable top engaging the side portions of the shirt to fold the sideportions of the shirt along with the folded sleeves into overlappingrelation to each other and in overlying relation to the folded tailportion of the shirt.

The present invention generally relates to automatic shirt foldingmachines and includes certain improvements in apparatuses such asdisclosed in previous Patent No. 3,111,246 issued Nov. 19, 1963, forShirt Folding Machine.

In shirt folding machines, conventional structures require that certainoperations be manually performed. For example, the lower end or tailportion of the shirt must be folded into overlying relation to the rearupper portion of the shirt in order that a laundered shirt may beprovided with a retaining band and, in some instances, placed into abag-like container or the like. In order to render the shirt foldingoperation substantially automatic, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a structure which will fold the tail portion of theshirt upwardly into overlying relation to the rear surface of the upperportion of the shirt so that the folding of the shirt is completelyautomatic and requires no manual folding operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic shirtfolding machine having a longitudinally movable and elevatable supportstructure for the tail of the shirt so that the tail of the shirt may befolded upwardly and towards the collar portion of the shirt foreffectively shortening the over-all length of the shirt after which thesleeve and side portions of the shirt are folded into overlying relationto the already folded main body portion of the shirt thereby completelyfolding the shirt into a condition such that a band or other retainingdevice may be immediately installed in encircling relation to the foldedshirt.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an automaticshirt folding machine having a device for catching the tail of the shirtand holding it in position when the tail folding assembly is actuated.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro vide anautomatic shirt folding machine having a shirt engaging structure whichwill engage the tail of the shirt after it is folded to retain it inposition thereby enabling the tail folding apparatus to return to itsnormal position for subsequent in-folding of the sleeves and sideportions of the shirt.

Still another feature of the present invention is the provision of anautomatic shirt folding machine having collar engaging structuralfeatures which not only retain the collar but fold the collar into asubstantially flat 3,477,619 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 'ice condition sothat not only the tail portion, sleeves and side portions of the shirtare positioned in a final condition but also the collar portion thereofis properly folded into a desired flattened condition.

Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide anautomatic shirt folding machine which is relatively simple inconstruction, efficient in operation, dependable and long lasting andrelatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as. more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the automatic shirt folding machine ofthe present invention with portions thereof broken away illustratingsome of the structural details thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shirt folding machineof the present invention illustrating the structural features thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the shirt folding machine;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded group perspective view illustrating the camshaft and the associated structural devices;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed perspective view illustrating the structure ofthe shirt tail catch;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the structure ofthe collar engaging and folding structure;

FIGURES 7-11 inclusive illustrates the steps followed by the machine infolding a shirt;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmental perspective view illustrating the drivemechanism for the shirt folding machine illustrating a cam shaft andother structural features;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a portion of the inventionillustrating schematically a modified shirt tail folding structureillustrating such structure in its lowered position; and

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 13 but illustratingthe structure in elevated position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 20 generallydesignates the shirt folding machine of the present invention whichincludes a housing or casing structure such as designated by numeral 22and 24 which is generally T-shaped in plan configuration with thehousing being suitable sheet metal or the like and being mounted on aninternal framework constructed from suitable structural members. Theparticular manner of attaching the casing or housing component to theframework may vary and forms no particular part of the presentinvention.

The housing 24 includes a top panel 26 which may be considered a tabletop surface having a relatively large square or rectangular opening 28formed therein and which is normally substantially closed. by a shirttail folding plate or panel 30 which may also be constructed of suitablesheet metal or the like. The portion of the top panel 26 adjacent thecasing 22 is provided with an opening 32 for receiving the front portionof the collar of a shirt when placed face down on the shirt foldingmachine. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the table top or top panel 26 and theplate 30 are normally disposed in coplanar relationship thus forming asubstantially flat surface area on which a shirt 34 is disposed. Whenthe shirt 34 is disposed on the machine, the collar portion 36 thereofis disposed within the opening 32 and the tail portion thereof extendsover the panel 30 and beyond the panel onto the portion of the topsurface 26 having a-tail catch structure generally designated by thenumeral 38 formed thereon for retaining the tail of the shirt inposition. The sleeves 40 of the shirt 34 extend laterally outwardlybeyond the side edges of the table top surface 26 in a manner describedhereinafter.

The tail catching mechanism 38 is illustrated in more detail in FIGURE 5and includes a supporting plate 42 supported on a suitable frame member44 and having an upstanding plate 46 rigid therewith. The vertical plate46'is fixedly secured to the plate 42 as by welding or the like andincludes a cut-out 48 receiving a piston rod 50 extending outwardly froma fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder assembly 52. The pistonrod 50 is attached to a slide plate 54 that is reciprocally mountedbeneath opposed guide plates 56 secured to the plate 42 in any suitablemanner so that the piston rod 50 will be guided in horizontalreciprocating movement. A tension spring 58 extends between a pin 60 onthe piston and cylinder assembly 52 and the guide plate 54 to normallybias the plate 54 towards the piston and cylinder assembly 52 with thepiston and cylinder assembly 52 being a single acting type of piston andcylinder assembly having a fluid pressure hose or conduit 62communicated with the ends thereof for extending the piston rod 50.

The outer end of the piston rod 50 is provided with an upwardlyextending rod 64 rigid therewith which is provided with a clamp plate 66at the upper end thereof which is disposed horizontally and providedwith an upwardly flared end portion 68 which is disposed in overlyingrelation to the table top surface 26 and also in overlying relation to alower clamp plate 70. The rod 64 is received within a slot in the tabletop surface 26 so that the clamp plate 66 may reciprocate laterally whenthe rod 64 is moved laterally when the piston and cylinder assembly 52is expanded so that the rod 50 is extended.

The lower clamping plate 70 is also disposed above the table top surface26 and is pivotally attached thereto by a suitable hinge structure 72with the end of the plate 70 which underlies the clamp plate 66 in itsnormal condition being engaged by a vertically slidable actuating bar 74having a rounded upper end which is slidably received in a guide plate76 carried by the plate 46. The lower end of the slide bar 74 isprovided with a crosshead 78 and tension springs 80 extend between thecrosshead 78 and the plate 76 for biasing the bar 74 upwardly thusbiasing the lower clamp plate 70 upwardly toward the clamp plate 66.

In operation, the shirt 34 is disposed'in inverted position with theoutermost panel 82 of the overlapping shirt front panels against the topsurface of the clamp plate 70 and the clamp plate 70 is forceddownwardly and the free edge of the outer panel 82 of the shirt 34 isthen inserted under the clamp plate 66. The inner panel of theoverlapping shirt front panels designated by 84 which has the buttonsthereon is then disposed .in overlying relation to the clamp plate 66with the free edges of the panels 82 and 84 being straightened bymanually exerting longitudinal tension on these two panels of the shirt.In this condition, the shirt front will be held in position and the backportion of the shirt will be disposed in a smooth unwrinkled conditionin overlying relation to the overlapping front panels. It will beunderstood that when the piston and cylinder assembly 52 is actuated,the clamp plate 66 will be moved laterally away from overlying relationto the plate 70 thereby releasing the tail of the front portion of theshirt.

The structure for engaging the collar 36 and adjacent shoulder portionsof the shirt 34 is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 6 and includesduplicate structure on opposite sides of the machine for associationwith opposite portions of the collar. In FIG. 6, the operating structurefor engaging one side of the collar is illustrated and it will beunderstood that this structure is duplicated on the opposite side of themachine. The structure involved includes a mounting plate 86 laterallyslidably supported from a bottom panel 88 below opening 32 in the topsurface 26. A slot 90 is provided transversely of the bottom panel 88for lateral sliding movement of the mounting plate 86 which is carriedby a depending pin 92 received in the slot 90 and provided with aretaining member 94 on the lower end thereof to retain the mountingplate 86 in position and to enable lateral sliding movement thereof.

One end of an elongated lever 96 is connected to pin 92 by a slotconnection 97 with the other end of the lever 96 being pivotallyattached to a pin 98 for horizontal swinging movement aboutsubstantially a vertical axis, Intermediate the ends of the lever 96, alink 100 is connected by a pivot pin 102 and the other end of the link100 is attached to an operating bar 104 by a pivot pin 106. Theoperating bar 104 reciprocates and is provided with a T-head 108 at theend thereof remote from its connection with the link 100 with the centerof the T-head 108 being fixed to a piston rod 110' which extends from afluid operated piston and cylinder assembly 112. Tension springs 114 areconnected to the outer ends of the T-head 108 and anchored to the pistonand cylinder assembly 112 to return the piston rod 110 to its retractedposition with the piston and cylinder assembly 112 being single actingin substantially the same manner as the piston and cylinder assembly 52.When pressure is not introduced into the piston and cylinder assembly112, the mounting plate 86 will be in extended position as illustratedin FIGURE 6 inasmuch as the springs 114 cause the mounting plate 86 tomove toward its outermost position and when pressure is admitted to thepiston and cylinder assembly 112, the mounting plate 86 will be movedinwardly which is the position that the mounting plate 86 must be in toreceive the shirt collar 36 and to release the shirt collar 36 after theshirt has been folded.

Mounted on the plate 86 is a pair of rotatable shafts 116 and 118 whichare journalled in any suitable manner on the plate 86. The shaft 116 hasa spur gear 120 fixed thereto in any suitable manner while the shaft 118has a spur gear 122 fixed thereto in any suitable manner with the spurgears being spaced from each other but located in the same horizontalplane for meshing engagement with opposite sides of a double rack 124which has teeth along both side edges thereof and which are meshed withthe gears 120 and 122 respectively. The double rack 124 is connectedwith a rod 126 in the form of a piston rod for a fluid pressure operatedpiston and cylinder assembly 128 carried by a bracket 130 which is alsoattached to the mounting plate 86 for oscillating the shafts 116 and 118when the piston and cylinder assembly 128 is extended or retracted.

A tension spring may be provided for the piston and cylinder assembly128 to enable the structure to be spring return operated. Mounted at theupper end of the shaft 118 is a collar catch 132 having .an upwardlyextending hook-like arcuate member 134 at the free end thereof. Theother shaft 116 has a laterally extending arm 136 thereon which servesto crease the portion of the shirt immediately outwardly of the collarwhich corresponds to the shoulder portion of the shirt. The collar catch132 is disposed in more or less underlying relation to the creasing arm136 when the mounting plate 86 is in its open position towards the outerend of the track or slot 90. When the shirt is placed on the machine,the mounting plate 86 in FIG. 6 and the duplicate mounting plate on theopposite side of the machine will be in their closed position, that is,in adjacent relationship toward the center of the slot 90. In thiscondition, the shirt collar catchers 132 are rotated so that they willbe in close proximity for insertion into the interior of the downwardlyfacing collar. At this time, the creasing arms 136 are directed towardthe outer corner of the mounting plate 86 so that they will notinterfere with placement of the collar onto the collar catchers 132.After the shirt has been placed in position, the cylinder 128 may beextended to the position illustrated in FIGURE 6 in which event thecatcher 132 is swung outwardly intothe interior of the collar to definethe crease in the collar and the creasing arm 136 is swung inwardly tomake the crease along the top edge or shoulder portion of the shirt justoutwardly of the fold or crease in the collar itself.

After the shirt 34 has been placed with the collar 36 engaged by thecollar catcher and the creasing arm 136 and the flaps of the tailengaged with the tail catch structure 38 and the shirt has been smoothedinto position, a paper panel 138 may be placed on the uppermost surfaceof the shirt. Such paper panels 138 may be conveniently stored in atray-like rack 140 supported by upwardly extending support members 142extending upwardly from the housing 22. Braces 144 of any suitableconstruction may be provided for the rack 140 to support the paperpanels 138 in any position. Such panels may be flexible paper orcardboard or any other material used in conventional shirt foldingprocedures. A retaining arm 146 is then pivoted downwardly to bring apair of laterally adjustabe retaining plates or panels 148 intoengagement with the smoothed shirt. The panels 148 may be adjusted by aslotted mounting connection as at 150 for attaching the plates 148 inadjusted position. Also, the width of the plates may be adjusteddepending upon the size of the shirt with the'outer edges of the plates148 generally defining the width of the folded shirt.

The arm 146 is pivotally supported from a pivot pin 152 carried by abracket 156 supported from a mounting plate 158 in the forward upperportion of the housing 22. The arm 146 includes a lateral extension 160having a cam follower roller 162 journalled thereon for engagement witha cam 164 mounted on an elongated transverse cam shaft 166. Rotation ofthe cam shaft 166 will cause rotation of the cam 164 thus causing thearm 146 to swing in a vertical arcuate manner through a slot 168provided in the front plate 170 carried by brackets 172 which alsosupport the plate 158 and which are supported from a bottom plate 174having bearing blocks 176 rotatably journalling the cam shaft 166.

The entire structure including the plates 158, 170 and 174 serves as apivoting head and swings about a horizontal axis so that the plate 174is upwardly inclined in a manner described hereinafter. In order toautomatically operate the machine, the arm 146 is initially loweredslightly by hand which engages a spring of the flat leaf type 178 whichcontrols a valve switch structure 180 and which has the free end thereofextending into the path of movement of the arm 146 so that it will serveto actuate the cycle of operation of the machine. The arm 146 w1ll beretained in the lowered position by pivotally mounted catch or hook 182having the central portion thereof pivotally supported from a pin 184 onthe plate 170. The lower end of the catch 182 is connected to a pistonrod 186 of a piston and cylinder assembly 188. A tension spring 190 isprovided to return the piston rod 186 to its retracted position. Whenthe fluid operated piston and cylinder assembly 188 is extended, theupper end of the catch or latch 182 will be retracted thus releasing thearm 146.

The plates 158 and 170 are retained in space relation by tubular spacers192 and fastening bolts 194 extend through the spacers 192 and serve toretain the plates 158 and 170 in spaced relation.

Extending through the front plate and journalled in the plates 170 and158 is a pair of shafts 196 and 198 each of which has a spur gear 200and 202 respectively thereon. The opposite end of the shaft 196 isprovided with a laterally extending arm 204 disposed outwardly of theplate 170 and the shaft 198 is provided with a corresponding laterallyextending arm 206 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The gear 200 is in meshing engagement with an elongated rack gear 208slidably supported in a guide plate 210 which is suitably mounted on theplate 158. The lower end of the rack gear 208 is provided with a rollerfollower 212 engaging the cam 214 mounted on the cam shaft 166. Atension coil spring 216 has one end thereof anchored to the plate 158and the other end anchored to a laterally extending arm 218 on the upperend of the rack 208 for retaining the follower 212 against the surfaceof the cam 214. The gear 202 is driven in a similar manner by virtue ofa rack 220, a roller follower 222 on the lower end thereof engaging acam 224 and being retained in engagement therewith by a tension spring226 similar to the spring 216 for operating in a similar manner.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the folding arm 204 is provided with abushing 228 which receives the shaft 196. Intermediate the length of thearm 204, an outwardly and laterally projecting L-shaped lug 230 ismounted and on the outer end of the arm 204, there is provided anelongated rod 232 to receive the sleeve 40 of the shirt 34. Alsoattached to the outer end of the arm 204 is a mounting link 234 which ispivotally supported on the rod 232 so that the link 234 may be pivot-edabout the axis of the rod 232. The link 234 has an elongated rod 236with an offset end 238 pivotally connected to the free end thereof asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 9. The rod 236 is in parallel relation to therod 232 and can swing in an arcuate path about the center defined by thepivotal connection between the offset end 238 thereof and the link 234and the entire assembly of the link 234 and the rod 236 may swing aboutthe axis of the rod 232 during inward swinging movement of the arm 204in a manner described hereinafter.

The lug 230 on the arm 204 serves as a support or limit means for theend of the link 234 remote from the rod 232 when the arm 204 is swunginto the inwardly extended position as illustrated in FIG. 10 when thesleeve 40 is folded inwardly. The plate is also provided with anL-shaped stop bracket 240 which engages the rod 236 to retain itgenerally in horizontal alignment with the rod 232 when the arm 204 isin its outermost position to facilitate insertion of the sleeve 40 ofthe shirt 34 between the rods 232 and 236.

The arm 206 is provided with a similar bushing 242 where it receives theshaft 198 and extending outwardly from the arm 206 is a pair ofelongated plate members 244 which are parallel to each other and whichoverlie the shirt 34 outwardly of the collar 36 and along the side edgesthereof as illustrated in FIG. '9. Thus, when the sleeve 40 is foldedinwardly, the outer edge of the outermost plate 244 forms a folding edgefor the sleeve 40 and the rod 236 serves to fold the cuff portion of thesleeve into overlying relation to the upper portion of the sleeve aslllustrated in FIG. 10. Then, the arm 206 is rotated inwardly which thenfolds the outer side portion of the shirt inwardly into overlyingrelation to the folded sleeve into the condition illustrated in FIG. 11and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the arm 204 is disposed suflicientlyspaced laterally from the arm 206 to enable this overlapping foldmgoperation to occur.

I Also, it is noted that the machine is also provided with similar armson both sides of the machine and similar operating mechanisms areprovided with the cams being lllustrated in FIG. 4 and designated bynumeral 214' and 224' respectively inasmuch as they are of slightlydifferent shape for timing the folding operation so that the sleeveswill be sequentially folded and then the side portigns sequentiallyfolded in a manner described hereina ter.

It further will be understood that the cam shaft 166 has a drivesprocket 246 thereon which is engaged by a sprocket chain 248 fordriving the cam shaft 166 from a sprocket gear 250 mounted on atransversely extending drive shaft 252 as illustrated in FIG. 12 whichis journalled on suitable bearing brackets 254 carried by a frame 256disposed in the housing 22.

The structure for folding the tail of the shirt towards the collarportion is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8 with the movable plate 30 havinga depending flange 258 at each corner thereof adjacent the edge of theopening 28 remote from the collar of the shirt. Attached to the loweredge of each flange 258 is a pair of longitudinally spaced rollers 260rollingly engaging a pair of side tracks 262. Each track 262 has aninner end portion thereof generally parallel to the table top 26, avertically inclined intermediate portion 264 and an outer end portion266 at a level below the inner end portion. The rollers 260 move fromlower outer end portion 266, proceed up the intermediate portion 264 andthen forwardly in the inner end portion. Thus, the plate 30 as it movesforwardly towards the collar portion will initially have the forwardedge thereof pivoted upwardly and forwardly as the plate 30 movesforwardly thus folding the tail of the shirt with a fold 268 and a fold270 over the front edge of the plate 30 thus bringing the tail portionof the shirt into folded overlying relation to the main portion of thebody of the shirt as illustrated in FIG. 8. The tail portion of theshirt where it is folded about fold 268 will overlie the panels 148 andalso the plate members 244 so that the tail portion of the shirt 34 willbe folded inwardly when the arm 206 is folded inwardly in a mannerdescribed hereinafter.

For reciprocating the plate 30 along the side track 262, a transverserod 272 extends between the flanges 258 and may be the axle for therearmost rollers 260. Engaged with the transverse rod 272 is a pair ofelongated levers 274 each having a longitudinal slot 276 engaged overthe rod 272. The levers 274 are pivotally attached to a bracket 278 by apivot pin 280 so that each lever 274 may swing about the axis of thepivot pin 280. The bracket 278 is attached to framing member 44 asillustrated in FIG. 2. Thus, as each lever 274 is swung in an arcuatemanner about the pivot pin 280, the transverse rod or axle 272 will bemoved longitudinally thus moving the plate 30 along the track 262 fromthe full line position illustrated in FIG. 2 to the dotted line positionillustrated therein and subsequent return to the full line position tocomplete a cycle of operation.

For pivoting each lever 274 about the axis of the pivot pin 280 there isprovided an elongated rod or bar 282 having one end thereof pivotallyconnected to the levers 274 intermediate the pivot point 280 and thetransverse rod 272 by a transverse rod 284 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Theother end of the rod 282 is provided with a downwardly extending endportion 286 which forms a cam follower for engaging a cam 288 carried bya shaft 290 journalled in suitable bushings or brackets within thecasing 22. A tension coil spring 292 is provided between the elongatedrod 282 and the frame 256 to retain the cam follower 286 against the cam288 and due to the elongated nature of the rod 282, a guide plate 294may be provided to support the central portion of the bar or rod 282.

As illustrated, the track 262 may be channel-shaped members or angleiron members or any other suitable structural arrangement and these maybe supported from the casing 24 or the table top surface 26 in anysuitable rigid and secure manner.

As the plate 30 returns to its normal position after the shirt 34 hasbeen folded, a transversely extending retaining bar 296 engages theupper surface of the folded shirt to prevent the folded shirt fromreturning with the plate 30 during its return movement to its normalposition. The bar 296 may be in the form of a cylindrical friction-typematerial mounted on a rod 298 extending centrally therethrough andextending across the table top surface in spaced parallel relationthereto and normally spaced above the surface 26 and above the uppermostposition of the plates 148. The rod 298 includes a pair of parallel rods300 integral with the ends thereof which are slidably received intubular guides 302 supported by brackets 304 in a pivotal manner fromthe upstanding support members 142 for tray 140 by pivot pins or bolts306. The free ends of the rods 300 are connected to actuating rods 308at the g ends thereof by pivot pins 310 and the rods 308 extend downthrough slots 312 in the top of the housing 22 and terminate in offsetend portions 314 which form a cam follower for engagement with cams 316at the opposite ends of cam shaft 290. As illustrated in FIG. 2, therods 308 are pivotally supported by pivot pins 318 on suitable brackets320 carried by the frame 256 so that the rods 308 are swung about theaxis of the pins'318 and thus cause the pivot pins 310 to swing in anarcuate manner thereby reciprocating the rods 308 and the transverse rod298 and the clamping bar 296 and also causing these components to pivotdue to the pivotal movement of the sleeves 302 and the arcuate movementof the pins 310. Thus, the clamping bar 296 will swing in a verticaldirection and also move in a longitudinal direction in relation to theshirt so that as the folding plate 30 for the tail portion of the shirtmoves inwardly to its limit of movement, the clamp bar 296 will be moveddownwardly into engagement with the shirt adjacent the fold 270 thereinfor retaining the folded shirt in position so that the plate 30 may beretracted from the shirt and returned to its normal position withoutreturn movement of the shirt afterwhich clamp bar 296 returns to itsnormal position.

The head assembly defined by the plates 158, and 174 and the driveassembly including frame 256 are pivotally supported in relation to theremainder of the machine by a hinge structure 322 so that the entireassembly may pivot to an inclined position or a horizontal position. Anactuating rod 324 is connected pivotally to the frame 256 in spacedrelation to the hinge 322 for oscillation thereof. The hinge 322supports the head and frame 256 in any conventional manner and theactuating rod 324 has a fluid pressure operated piston and cylinderassembly 326 connected thereto with the other end thereof connected to asuitable anchor on housing 22.

The shaft 252 is driven from an electric motor 330 having an outputshaft 332 provided with a sprocket gear 334 receiving a drive sprocketchain 336 which in turn is engaged over a sprocket gear 338 connected tothe shaft 252 through a slip clutch mechanism 340 of conventionalconstruction. The shaft 252 is drivingly connected with the shaft 290through a sprocket chain drive assembly 342 and through a slip clutch344. The slip clutch 340 is operatively associated with a one revolutionclutch assembly 346 for cyclically controlling operation of the shaft252 and correspondingly, the slip clutch 344 is connected with acorresponding one revolution clutch mechanism 348 for cyclic operationof the shaft 290. The one revolution clutch structures are conventionalin construction and are actuated by piston and cylinder assemblies 349and 350 which rotate the shaft one revolution or a portion of arevolution and then release the shaft.

The components of the shirt folding machine are adjustable to enable themachine to elfectively fold various types, styles and sizes of shirts.For example, the plates 148 are laterally adjustable, the plates 244 maybe adjustable, the length of arm 204 may be adjustable and thecomponents may be removable to vary the length thereof if desired. Thedegree of movement of the various components may be adjusted byadjusting the position of such components such as the degree of movementof the collar engaging catches, the shoulder creasing arm and the shirttail retaining roller or bar. The specific details of the fluid pressuresystem are not disclosed but foot treadles may be provided for actuatingthe machine and of course the shirt board can be moved down by hand andis retained in the down position because of the hook shaped catch whichalso automatically operates a valve by virtue of the arm of the shirtroller engaging the valve. When this valve is operated, it shuts off theair of the valve connected to the tilt cylinder 326 so that the headlowers and operates the cylinders 349 and 350 to operate the onerevolution clutches 346 and 348 and also operates the cylinder 52 whichholds the shirt tail to the top rear of the table surface 26. Footpedals such as foot pedals 352 and 354 may be provided for operating thecollar engaging structure and shoulder creasing structure.

Also, a valve is provided which is automatically moved by the rack ofthe last folding arm which serves to release the collar blocks andcrease cylinders and also operates the valve which opens the air topivot the head up and it also releases the catch on the shirt board arm.The specific details of the pneumatic system have not been illustratedinasmuch as each individual installation will require adaptation of apneumatic system accordingly. Various types of drive mechanisms may beprovided and if desired, individual motors may be provided for variousof the drive shafts, a fluid pressure operated motor may be employed foroperating the tail folding board and also operating the tail holdingroller if desired and various conventionally provided gear reductionmechanisms may be employed, slip clutches, controlled revolutions andthe like may also be employed which are controlled by fluid pressureoperated piston and cylinder such as the two clutches illustratedherein. The degree of movement of the collar engaging mechanism may bevaried by varying the degree of movement of the piston and cylinderassembly or by varying the effective length of certain of the linkagesinvolved. The cam lugs are mounted on the shaft in a manner whichenables adjustment thereof to vary the degree of movement of the variouscomponents and to time the movement of such components.

In operating the machine, it will normally be disposed with the headoriented in inclined position with the various plates and arms extendingupwardly in an inclined position awayfrom the table surface so that thetable surface is exposed for enabling access to the collar engagingcatches 132. The shirt is arranged in a front down position with theshirt buttoned in a conventional manner. The operator engages the shirtcollar downwardly over the shirt engaging catches which are in theclosed or inward position and'thereafter the blocks 86 are movedoutwardly thus engaging the collar, forming the crease in the collar andthe crease arms simultaneously form the crease in the shoulder portionof the shirt immediately outwardly of the collar inasmuch as the collarwill be disposed in substantially a flat condition. Thus, the collarwill be securely retained by the collar engaging components of themachine. The remainder of the shirt is flattened and smoothed in aconventional manner by hand with the sleeves inserted downwardly betweenthe rods 232 and 236 and merely resting or hanging downwardly andengaging the rod 232. The two overlapping front panels 82 and 84 of theinverted shirt 34 are disposed in their normal position and thelowermost panel 82 which happens to be the outer front panel of theshirt having the button holes therein is inserted under the clamp plate66 by exerting downward pressure on the plate 70 and sliding the freeedge of the panel 82 under the clamp plate 66 with the inner panel 84 ofthe shirt which has the buttons thereon merely disposed in overlyingrelation to the panel 82 in a conventional manner. Of course, thebuttons do not extend to the tail portion of the shirt and do notinterfere with movement of the panels in relation to the grippingmechanism. Then, with the shirt in a completely smooth condition, theshirt folding board 30 will be actuated and this occurs simultaneouswith the operation of the cylinder 52 which moves the retaining clampplate 66 laterally thereby releasing the tail of the shirt so that itcan move forwardly into a folded condition with the folds 268 and 270being formed. As the shirt folding board 30 reaches its forwardmostposition, the shirt retaining bar or roller 296 will be movedlongitudinally and downwardly into engagement with the top surface ofthe folded shirt adjacent the fold 270 to retain the folded tail portionof the shirt in position when the shirt folding board 30 returns to itsnormal position. When the shirt folding board 30 returns to its normalposition, the shirt retaining roller or bar 296 is also returned to itselevated and retracted position out of .10 the way of the subsequentmovement of the rods 232 and 236 and the plate 244.

As the retaining bar 296 returns to its normal position, the cam shaft166 causes inward swinging of the outer arm 204 thus folding the sleeve40 inwardly over the plates 244 with the rod 236 serving to retain theouter portion of the sleeve 40 in position. This movement also engagesthe rod 232 and the rod 236 with the fold 268 and the fold 270 toprevent the tail portion of the shirt from moving. It is noted that therod 236 is disposed generally along the inner edge of the plate-likemembers 244 as illustrated in FIG. 10. After one sleeve has been foldedinwardly, the other sleeve is then folded inwardly in exactly the samemanner due to carns 214 and 224'. After both sleeves have been foldedinwardly and both sides of the shirt have the appearance as illustratedby one side of the shirt in FIG. 10, the arms 206 are then swunginwardly in sequential relation which folds the side portion of theshirt, the side portion of the folded tail portion and the outerportions of the sleeve into overlying relation to the bars 236 and 232and the portions of the shirt engaged thereby. Thus, all of the shirtpanels will be folded generally along a pivot line coinciding generallywith the inner edge of the inner plate member 244. The final conditionof the shirt is illustrated in FIGURE 11 in which both of the arms 206have been folded inwardly in sequential relation so that the plate likepanels 244 generally overlie each other and the final width of the shirtis substantially the same as the shirt board defined by the panels 148.In this position, a retaining band may be provided around the shirt bymerely inserting it under the shirt at the relieved portion of the tabletop surface and securing it in encircling relation to the shirt in anysuitable manner. At that point, the collar engaging assembly may bemoved to the closed or inner position thus releasing the collar and thefolded shirt may then be easily moved longitudinally off of the variousrods 232, 236, the various plates 244 and the shirt board 148. Ofcourse, the head will pivot to the upwardly inclined position at thispoint to enable easier removal of the shirt without correspondingengagement with the recessed portion of the table top surface 26.

While the shirt folding operation may be completely automatic "after theshirt has been inserted in the machine, the various steps may also bemanually performed. For example, the tail folding portion of the shirtmay be manually performed or the control for the tail folding shirtboard 30 may be manually controlled as may the controls for the othercomponents of the machine thereby enabling the machine to be controlledby a series of sequentially operated foot pedals, push buttons, valvehandles or the like which may be conveniently located for control by anoperator. The various piston and cylinder assemblies may bepneumatically operated inasmuch as most laundry and dry cleaning plantswill have a source of compressed air and the control mechanism may besuch that various sequences are semi-automatic to enable the operator tomake certain that the various procedural steps and folding steps areproperly conducted and to enable the shirt to be smoothed out by theoperator in the event this becomes necessary thereby assuring that theshirt when in its finally folded condition will be subst'antially smoothand wrinkle-free.

FIGURES l3 and 14 disclose another arrangement for folding the tailportion of the shirt and includes a plate or panel 360 which correspondsto the plate 30 illustrated in FIGS. 1l2 in that it operates in the samegeneral manner for folding the tail portion of the shirt. Thisconstruction includes a supporting framework generally designated bynumeral 362 and which includes a base plate 364 and upstanding cornermembers 366 which are in the form of T-bars which have the centralflange thereof disposed inwardly to form vertical guides or tracks for avertical carriage generally designated by the numeral 368 and whichincludes a pair of longitudinal cylindrical rods or pipes 370 having aroller 372 on each end thereof. Each of the rollers 372 is grooved torollingly and guidingly receive the inwardly extending flange on theT-bar corner posts 366' so that the carriage may move vertically inrelation to the corner posts 366.

For elevating the carriage 368, there is provided a parallelogramlinkage arrangement including a first U-shaped member 374 and a secondU-shaped member 376 disposed in parallel relation to each other with thecentral portion of each of the U-shaped members being pivotallysupported from a horizontal frame member 378 by pivot bolts 380 or thelike. The U-shaped member 374 has the lower end thereof formed by atransverse member 382 while the U-shaped member 37 6 has the bightportion thereof omitted. The lower ends of the members 374 and 376 areinterconnected by a link member 384 parallel with the frame member 378for retaining the parallelogram linkage. The upper ends of the U-shapedmembers 374 and 376 have grooved rollers 386 thereon engaging thelongitudinal members 370 of the vertically movable carriage 368. Tensioncoil springs 388 interconnect the carriage 368 and the frame members 378for biasing the carriage 368 to its lowermost position. Thus, as theU-shaped members 374 and 376 are simultaneously pivoted about pivotbolts 380, the carriage 368 will be elevated and lowered.

A fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder assembly 390 has one endthereof pivotally attached to the base 384 by supporting lugs 392. Apiston rod 394 extends from the piston and cylinder assembly 390 and ispivotally attached to the transverse connecting rod 382 by a sleeve 396thereon. The piston rod 394 is provided with an extension 398 that ispivotally attached to the lower end of an oscillating frame 400 for thehold-down bar 402 which corresponds with the bar or roller 296 in FIGS.ll2. A tension spring 404 returns the frame 400 about its pivot axis andthe extension 398 is pivotally attached to the frame 400 and alsopivotally attached to the sleeve to enable articulation thereof duringreciprocation of the piston rod 394.

The plate 360 is provided with a pair of depending supports 406 at eachrear corner thereof with a longitudinal support member 408 rigidtherewith. The longitudinal support member includes four grooved rollers410 which engage the longitudinal member 70 for rolling movement of theplate 360 thereon. A piston and cylinder assembly 412 is pivotallyattached to the frame 362 by an attachment lug 414 and the piston rod416 provided thereon is connected to a transverse member 418 extendingbetween the forward ends of the longitudinal frame member 408. Thus,expansion and retraction of the piston and cylinder assembly 412 willcause reciprocation of the folding plate 360 to fold the tail portion ofthe shirt in the same manner as the plate 30. Thus, withthis'construction, the folding table or plate 360 is operated in both avertical direction and a longitudinal reciprocating direction with theoperation being such that the movement of the plate 360 and the clampbar is ,so arranged that when the plate 360 returns to its normalposition, the clamp bar will engage the shirt to retain it in its foldedposition in the same manner as the clamp bar 296.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A shirt folding machine comprising a generally flat horizontallydisposed rectangular table top having a supporting surface adapted toreceive a shirt in downwardly facing position, means at one end of saidsurface for engaging and retaining the collar and adjacent shoulderportions of the shirt, means adjacent the other end of the surface forengaging and releasably retaining the tail portion of a shirt with thesleeves of the shirt extending laterally from the edges of the surface,means mounted on the table top for moving longitudinally of thesupporting surface and folding the tail portion of the shirt intooverlying relation to the main body portion thereof, means mounted atthe end of the surface having the collar engaging means thereon forreceiving and supporting the sleeves of a shirt and folding the sleevesinwardly in overlying relation to the main body portion of the shirt,and means mounted adjacent the sleeve engaging means adapted to engagethe shirt inwardly of the side edge thereof with the sleeves beingdisposed thereover when folded inwardly for folding the sleeves and sideportions of the shirt into overlying relationto the central portionthereof.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said machine alsoincludes means for moving into engagement with the folded tail portionof the shirt for retaining it in folded condition during return movementof the shirt tail folding means.

'3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said shirt collar andshoulder engaging means includes a pair of mounting blocks, meanssliding the blocks laterally inwardly and outwardly in relation to thesurface for movement between a closed position for receiving a collarand an extended position for securing a collar, shirt collar catchesmounted on said blocks for extending into the collar and engagingopposed surfaces of the interior of the collar to retain the collar inflattened extended condition, and crease arms attached to the blocks forcreasing the portion of the shoulder of the shirt outwardly of thecollar, and means carried by the blocks for moving the shirt collarcatches and crease arms to effectively crease the collar and adjacentshoulder portion of the shirt.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for retainingthe tail of the shirt includes a laterally movable clamp plate and avertically movable clamp plate, normally underlying the laterallymovable clamp plate, said vertically movable clamp plate beingspringbiased upwardly and being capable of being depressed by exertingvertical hand pressure thereon whereby the lowermost panel of theoverlapping front panels of the shirt may be inserted against thevertically movable clamp plate and forced downwardly and laterally underthe lat erally movable clamp plate and power means for moving thelaterally movable clamp plate laterally to release the lowermost panelof the shirt.

5. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for foldingthe tail portion of the shirt includes a longitudinal movable plateforming a portion of the table top for normally underlying the tailportion of the shirt inwardly of the ends thereof, track meanssupporting said movable plate for movement in a longitudinal andverticaldirection so that the plate will move initially in a verticalcomponent and subsequently in a horizontal component in order to foldthe tail portion of the shirt, and power means for cyclically movingsaid plate.

6. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said tail portionretaining means includes a clamp bar mounted on' said machine inoverlying relation to the table top for sliding and pivotal movement inrelation thereto.

7. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve receiving andsupporting means includes a laterally outwardly extending arm pivotallysupported for rotation about substantially a horizontal axis, anelongated rod attached to the outer end of the arm and extending ingenerally parallel relation to the shirt receiving surface and disposedin spaced relation to the surface for engaging the sleeve in spacedrelation to the main body portion of the shirt so that when the arm androd are swung about a horizontal axis, the sleeve will be foldedinwardly into overlying relation to the main body portion of the shirt.

8. The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein said arm includes anextension link pivotally attached to the outer end thereof, saidextension link including an elongated rod member parallel to said rodand swingable about an axis defined by said rod, a support bracket forengaging the outer end of the extension link to retain the rod memher ingenerally the same horizontal plane as said rod to define a relativelylarge slot-like opening for receiving the free end of the sleeve, saidextension link and rod member being pivoted in relation to the armduring pivotal movement of the arm due to gravity thereby retaining theouter end portion of the sleeve in smooth condi tion, and lug means onthe arm limiting the free gravity movement of the link and rod member toa position substantially in the same horizontal plane as the rod whenthe arm and rod are folded to their innermost position in overlyingrelation to the main body portion of the shirt.

9. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein the means for folding theside portions of the shirt includes a swingable arm disposed forrotatable movement about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of thesleeve folding arm, a plate extending laterally from the swinging armand engaging the side portions of the main body of the shirt, the rodand rod member being disposed inwardly of the plate when in the inwardlyfolded position so that the plate and swinging arm may be swung inwardlyinto overlying relation thereto thereby folding inwardly the sideportions of the shirt and corresponding portions of the sleeve.

10. In a shirt folding machine having a table-like supporting surfaceand means for retaining a shirt in position thereon, that improvementcomprising a folding assembly for the tail portion of the shirtincluding a supporting plate mounted in and forming part of thesupporting surface and adapted to be disposed in underlying relation toa shirt placed on the supporting surface and means supporting said plateon the machine for movement in a longitudinal and vertical direction inrelation to the supporting surface While retaining the supporting plateand its path of movement in generally parallel relation to thesupporting surface with the vertical direction of movement beingcombined with the initial longitudinal direction of movement of theplate for folding the tail portion of the shirt.

11. The structure as defined in claim 10 wherein said shirt foldingmachine also includes a retaining clamp bar mounted on the machine formovement into engagement with the folded portion of the shirt duringreturn movement of the folding plate for retaining the folded portion ofthe shirt in position and subsequently moving to a retracted positionfor subsequent folding operation on the shirt.

12. The structure as defined in claim 11 wherein said machine includes avertically movable trackway mounted thereon and longitudinallyreciprocally mounting said supporting plate, means for raising andlowering said trackway, and means reciprocating said plate.

13. The structure as defined in claim 11 wherein said machine includes atrackway mounted thereon and having two longitudinally extendingvertically offset portions interconnected by an inclined intermediateportion, and means reciprocating the supporting plate along the track-Way for moving the supporting plate in a longitudinal and verticalcomponent of movement.

14. The structure as defined in claim 12 wherein said means forelevating the vertically movable trackway includes a parallelogramlinkage, said vertically moving trackway having a pair of side railsthereon, said parallelogram linkage having rollers engaging the siderails, said supporting plate having rollers engaging the side rails ofthe vertically movable trackway, and corner guide posts engaging theends of the side rails of the vertically movable trackway for guidingand controlling the movement thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,616,594 11/ 1952 Calder et al.22337 2,629,519 2/1953 Neckel 22337 2,950,848 8/1960 Gayring 223-373,181,747 5/1965 Lucius et al. 22337 3,269,619 8/1966 Freeman 233-37MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner

